Kyrgyzstan Says Yanukovych Not Ukrainian President

Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych leaves his press conference in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on March 11.

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Kyrgyzstan Says Yanukovych Not Ukrainian President

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Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry says ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych cannot be considered the legitimate leader of the country.

In a statement issued March 11, the Foreign Ministry said the current crisis in Ukraine was caused by corruption and wrong decisions by the former authorities of that country when Yanukovych was president.

"The only source of power in any country is its people, and a president who lost his people's trust, who de facto lost his presidential authority and, moreover, who fled the country, cannot be legitimate," the statement says.

Yanukovych told journalists in Roston-on-Don, Russia, earlier on March 11 that he is Ukraine's legitimate president.

The statement also said that Kyrgyzstan is concerned over the current crisis in Ukraine and condemns any activities aimed at destabilizing the situation there.

The statement from Kyrgyzstan is the first from a member of the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States that largely contradicts the Kremlin's view of the situation.

Also written with a statement from Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry

RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service is one of the most trusted sources of news and information in Kyrgyzstan, especially at times of political turmoil. Azattyk's reports are regularly cited and reprinted by local and regional media.